Rex, our magic dragon, glides upon the lake.

He carries his courageous crew, paddlin’ for each other’s sake.

Chinese Dragon Boating began some 2,000 years ago, but this ancient sport didn’t find its way to Akron, Ohio until May, 2007. That’s when an enthusiastic group of survivors picked up their paddles and launched Ohio’s First Breast Cancer Dragon Boat on Rex Lake. Similar to sculling, Dragon Boating is one of the fastest growing water sports in the world. Twenty paddlers sit two abreast in a 40 foot boat with its colorful dragon head on the front and dragon tail on the back. A coxswain and drummer complete the crew.

The Dragon Dream Team began through the efforts of breast cancer survivor, Jessica Mader and her doctor, Akron plastic surgeon, Dr. Douglas Wagner. The 76-year-old Jessica was a member of a BCS Dragon Boat team in Nova Scotia. Her enthusiasm and positive attitude while undergoing cancer treatment inspired Dr. Wagner. He offered to purchase a dragon boat and challenged Jessica to invite other patients to “get on board.” Over 70 survivors initially joined the team. Now, three times each week, paddlers dressed in their signature pink, gather at Craftsmen Park and glide their pink Dragon Boat around the beautiful waters of Portage Lakes.

During its first two seasons, The Dream Team has participated in Dragon Boat Festivals and competitions in Toledo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Windsor. During 2008, The Dream Team hosted Ohio’s first Dragon Boat Training Camp and a Breast Cancer Summit.

The Dragon Dream Team is one of more than 100 Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat Teams around the world. The Dream Team welcomes new members and the only requirement to join is to be a breast cancer survivor. Their goal is to support and care for each other while promoting self-esteem, camaraderie, physical and emotional health and well-being. Dragon Dream Team members demonstrate a quality of life after breast cancer that exceeds all expectations.

All donations to support the Dream Team and its mission will be acknowledged with a receipt and may be sent to 3064 Silver Lake Boulevard, Silver Lake, Ohio 44224-3033.